the Bermuda team for last year's ICC Trophy tournament in Malaysia, has accepted a similar role with the Indian side.

Simpson, who also captained Australia during his playing career, confirmed the part-time appointment in a statement to the Indian media yesterday.

The announcement would appear to end any chances of Simpson, who first worked with Bermuda in the lead-up to the 1996 Shell/Sandals tournament in Guyana, playing a coaching role in the Island's cricket in the future.

The development, however, seems to have had little impact on the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's search for an individual to lead the Island's cricket into a new era.

Questioned again this week on the search for a new coach, BCBC president El James reiterated his words of two months ago, saying: "At this point, we have had no contact with anyone.'' But he did confirm that most of the preliminary work which would allow the implementation of the Board's new coaching plan was in place.

"We've just about gone through all the paperwork, now it's a matter of finances,'' he said, although he refused to discuss from where funds would be forthcoming.

The Royal Gazette reported recently that Sports Minister Tim Smith was considering the BCBC's application for funds to cover the appointment of a national coach.

"The coaching plan is about how to achieve certain goals such as the development of sport, youth and taking cricket into schools,'' said James.

"I'm sure the committee have a pretty good idea of the type of individual they want.'' The high-profile Simpson, who was coach to the Australians when they won the World Cup in India in 1987, was hired by the BCBC's previous administration and may be considered too strongly associated with that regime, which was ousted last July.

He was in charge for the tour to Guyana and later joined up with the team in Malaysia last March for the ill-fated ICC Trophy, marred by allegations of drug use and other disciplinary problems.

His report on those incidents has never been made public.

Simpson was flying out of India yesterday, just two days before his countrymen arrive for a three Test series and triangular one-day tournament also involving Zimbabwe.

He said his main job would be to prepare the Indians for the 1999 World Cup in England, adding that the country lagged behind the top sides in their fielding, running between the wickets and training.

The position was first discussed last December and earlier this month Raj Singh Dungarpur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said Simpson would be able to "pull the Indian cricket team out of the dismal situation it is in now''.